The Eleventh Hour
Meaning
“The eleventh hour” refers to the very last moment before a deadline or an important event. It describes a situation in which something happens or a decision is made just before it is too late.
The expression comes from the biblical parable of the workers in the vineyard, where workers hired at the “eleventh hour” were brought in near the end of the working day. Over time, the phrase came to mean the final opportunity to act.
Usage
“The eleventh hour” is common in both everyday and formal English. It is often used when someone makes a decision, solves a problem, or takes action at the last possible moment.
It can describe something positive, such as an eleventh-hour rescue, but it can also suggest unnecessary delay or poor planning. The phrase is often used with “at,” as in “at the eleventh hour.”
Example Sentences
- We managed to find a replacement at the eleventh hour.
- She submitted her application at the eleventh hour, just minutes before the deadline.
- An eleventh-hour agreement prevented the two sides from going to court.
- He always seems to finish his assignments at the eleventh hour.
- The doctors performed an eleventh-hour operation that saved his life.